HOW TO AVOID BEING SKIMMED

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has produced a short video to help Texas consumers avoid becoming a victim of credit card skimming at fuel pumps. Small devices implanted by thieves in fuel pumps, called skimmers, illegally collect consumers credit or debit card information when they gas up. The devices are being found in pumps all over the state. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is responsible for inspecting all gas pumps in the state for accuracy and fuel quality. Commissioner Miller has made it a priority for TDA inspectors to also check for these illegal skimming devices.

TDA's "How To Avoid Getting Skimmed" video addresses topics like what things to look for at the gas pump to indicate a skimmer has been installed. One of the most useful and surprising suggestions, according to comments from Facebook viewers, is the tip to watch out for Bluetooth signals at the pump. Some skimmer devices depend on Bluetooth signals to get private data out of the skimmers and into the thieves' phones or laptops.

Welcome to the Texas Department of Agriculture

Howdy Neighbors!

You may not know it, but the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) touches your life almost every day. From the gas pump you used to fill up your car this morning to the salsa you’re eating at dinner, TDA was there to help. From the healthy lunches at your child’s school to the scales used to weigh your luggage at the airport, TDA was there, too. From our role as the state consumer protection agency to administering school lunches and marketing Texas products, the TDA is a diverse and busy place. We work hard every day to serve you.

Since I was sworn into office in 2015, I’ve also worked diligently to make this agency better. Please take some time to browse our website and learn about the many ways we’re working better, faster and more efficiently for you. As always, it is my honor to serve as your Texas Agriculture Commissioner and remind you that Texas Agriculture Matters!

Saturday, February 09, 2019, AUSTIN — Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced he has been asked by the White House to join President Donald J. Trump in El Paso for what is expected to be a major event to rally public support for the president’s plan to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico.

Monday, January 28, 2019, AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today announced the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting applications for its 2019 summer nutrition programs. These programs connect community organizations and schools with federal funds to provide healthy meals for Texas children who may not always have access to good nutrition when school cafeterias are closed for summer.

Thursday, January 24, 2019, AUSTIN – One hundred agricultural producers in Texas have joined the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Farm Fresh Network. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller created the Farm Fresh Network in 2015 to help connect Texans to local agriculture through nutrition programs administered by TDA. TDA will recognize the achievement at the TDA Community Nutrition Conference, February 11-13, 2019, in Georgetown, TX.

Wednesday, January 09, 2019, AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has announced he will be sworn-in for his second term in office this Monday, Jan. 14. The ceremony will take place in Pharr, Texas at the Pharr International Bridge along the Texas-Mexico border. Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman will conduct the oath of office. Commissioner Miller will be joined by dignitaries and elected officials, as well as officials from the neighboring Mexican state of Tamaulipas, including Governor Francisco Javier Cabeza de Vaca. The swearing-in will be streamed on Facebook Live.

Thursday, December 06, 2018, AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today called on Congress to lift the almost century-old federal ban on hemp production in the United States. The provision is included in the new 2018 Farm Bill before Congress. Hemp is the non-narcotic cousin of marijuana and the source of a sturdy fiber and CBD oil, a substance widely used for therapeutic purposes such as treating medical conditions like seizures.

Friday, November 30, 2018, AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller proudly released the first GO TEXAN® Holiday Gift Guide to help Texans go local and GO TEXAN® this holiday season. The electronic publication is available for free to subscribers of the monthly GO TEXAN® ezine and on the GO TEXAN® website. It highlights hand-crafted specialty items ranging from food and beverages to health and beauty from more than 80 GO TEXAN® member companies.